Portugal coach Fernando Santos had put off the decision for years, but eventually rolled the dice – and benched Cristiano Ronaldo. Newly liberated Portugal have installed themselves among the World Cup favourites and in an exhilarating 90 minutes blew away criticism of their "uninspiring" football. Santos later insisted the decision to bench Ronaldo against the Swiss was for strategic rather than disciplinary reasons. Portuguese newspaper Record reported that Ronaldo threatened to leave the World Cup squad, before changing his mind. By reaching the quarter-finals, Santos has enriched his legacy, guaranteeing at least Portugal's third best ever finish at a World Cup.
